Shining start in desert

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PHOENIX – Diamonds finally are being carved into a triangle-shaped piece of property some 30 miles west of downtown, a sign that the final phase of the Dodgers’ move west is shaping up some 50 years after it began.

PHOENIX – Diamonds finally are being carved into a triangle-shaped piece of property some 30 miles west of downtown, a sign that the final phase of the Dodgers’ move west is shaping up some 50 years after it began.

All summer long, as the Dodgers celebrate a half century in Los Angeles, the two-team spring complex they are expected to share with the Chicago White Sox will blossom from the barren desert.

For now, earth movers plod along while cement trucks crawl on this skinned patch of land just east of the bone-dry Agua Fria River and west of a collection of inconspicuous horse boarding stables.

Some two miles away, and well in sight, are the city of Glendale’s other homages to sport: Jobing.com Arena, home to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Phoenix Cardinals and site of last January’s Super Bowl.

The hockey arena in particular offers proof that a Cactus League-sized stadium, two locker rooms and a web of practice fields can be built in a shade less than 11 months. Glendale boasts that the 4-year-old arena was built in just two years, a record for a venue its size.

The chances the Dodgers are forced to return to their beloved, if not outdated, spring stronghold in Vero Beach, Fla., appear unlikely.

“Just (Thursday) I talked to (the construction company) and they said everything’s great and we’re going well and everything is on track for February 2009,” said Julie Frisone, city of Glendale spokesperson. “In their mind, they are on track to deliver that facility with it complete and ready to go.

“Now, could Arizona get struck by an intense amount of rain (to cause delays)? Something could always happen, but at this point, there is no issue with the delivery of the facility.”

Recent news has spelled gloom and doom for Arizona’s newest spring training complex that it wouldn’t be completed on time. But it isn’t just the city of Glendale that is spreading good news about the complex’s new timeline.

“These things are never done till they are done, but there’s nothing I see on the horizon in that category of something that would recall the deal,” Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said last week.

While it is the city of Glendale that is undertaking the project, the complex actually is being built on land within the borders of Phoenix. The city of Glendale purchased the land a number of years ago to use as a buffer for their municipal airport that sits just to the north. It was a way of making sure only low-rise buildings would be built on the parcel.

At present, there is barely anything on the site to signify that baseball will rule these grounds in less than a year. At the northern end of the property, a comfortable distance from the intersection of W. Camelback Rd. and 107th Ave., concrete work has started on what will eventually be the stadium. A seating bowl has been carved into the dirt and the infield, at least, has been leveled off.

Away from the stadium, irrigation work is being carved along with underground utility lines. Site prep work continues with huge piles of dirt waiting to be moved.

“We have been guaranteed by the construction company that it will be ready for next year,” Frisoni said. “We are looking forward to the teams being here and the city of Glendale having its first chance to participate in hosting spring training.”

It is possible that the Dodgers will be the facility’s only tenant next year. The White Sox, who currently train 100 miles south in Tucson, will not be allowed to break their lease unless they find a team to take over their facility.

“The teams have detailed construction drawings and updated plans for the project from the city,” Frisoni said. “Team representatives are reviewing the details and working with the city, the project architect and the project manager on the details.”

The facility was designed by HKS Architects, whose signature sports projects are Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Texas); Miller Park in Milwaukee, American Airlines Center (home of the Dallas Mavericks) and the new 80,000-seat Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington that can be expanded up to 100,000 seats.